Let's Chat! - Never Delete!

[Megan]

Heading home to the west coast of Florida to spend the weekend on the Gulf

[Kelsi]

I'm celebrating with friends before heading to Minnesota for a family golf outing this weekend. My last vacation before law school!

[Nathaly]

I need a vaca but I'm trying to save up my PTO hours for Christmas and New Year's. I'm planning on taking 2 weeks off.

[Laura]

I have seen on various profiles that people read 2-4 books at a time. Does this really happen or are they forgetting to update? And if they are truly reading multiple books, I'd like to know how they manage!

[Stefani - SpelingExpirt]

I have to read multiple books in case I need to take a break from the one I'm on or I'm not feeling it just then.

[Kara]

I'm the same as Stefani. I keep two or three going at a time so that I can switch around when I get antsy. Usually, I'll have one book in the "background" that I'm reading between other, faster paced books. Right now that is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

[Laura]

Hmmm, perhaps I'll give it a whirl.

[Sheena]

I've tried to read multiple books but I just can't.. I have to have only one but that way I read it faster to get to the next one. However, if I'm not captured by the book within the first few chapters I move onto the next book!

[Moth]

I do the same thing as Kara. I tend to have one main book with one or two in the background. Mine is Les Miserables. While my main book is 1Q84, which is pretty long on its own. I used to be a lot better at reading more than one book at a time, though now I tend to really get into one book while the other tends to get left behind because of that fact.

[Laura]

Sheena wrote: "I've tried to read multiple books but I just can't.. I have to have only one but that way I read it faster to get to the next one. However, if I'm not captured by the book within the first few chap..."

That makes sense Sheena! For some reason though, I have this thing about finishing a book once I start it no matter what. I can only remember a couple that were SO uninteresting to me that I didn't finish them.

[Moth]

So I caved today and bought 'The Cuckoo's Calling' for my kindle. Even here they don't have copies to buy of it right now in hard copy. I might still buy the book later on just so I can have it. But I'm insanely excited about this. It's pretty good so far, though, I'm only a few pages into it so far.

[Kara]

Let us know how it is, Cherise! I'm really curious about it.

[Moth]

I definitely will, Kara!

[Nathaly]

93 degree weather. I'm definitely going to hit the beach and read a good book!

[Moth]

I just finished 'The Cuckoo's Calling'! It took me a little while to finish it because I got caught up with some other stuff, but it was really well written. It didn't end the way I thought at all. I think JK did amazing. I highly recommend it if anyone likes any sort of mystery sort of books. I normally don't read too much of them unless there's a good word said about it, but this is my personal feelings about it.

[Nancy from NJ]

I am currently reading Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear and The English Girl by Daniel Silva.

The summer has been fine although I wish I could have read more. It's been hot and while I played tennis some days, the rest of the time I was just around and did little else.

[Kara]

Ha, wow, I just realized I made a BIG mistake. The September theme is non-fiction. The August theme is festivals. I created August challenges to suit the non-fiction theme! Well, good thing our August book is non-fiction already (by chance). Should I create a new theme for September? What do you all think?

[Kara]

Okay, making the executive decision to change the theme for September. August can be festivals/non-fiction.

[Nathaly]

Kara wrote: "Okay, making the executive decision to change the theme for September. August can be festivals/non-fiction."

What will the theme be for September?

[Kara]

September's theme is school. :)

[Moth]

Hey guys, I wanted to share a personal project I've started recently. With every book I read, I make a playlist of songs for it. It's like an added thing to get your mind focused on the themes. And who hasn't heard a song that makes you think of a book?

Basically, I just wanted to share and I wanted to see what you guys think of the idea.

[Toni]

Cherise wrote: "Hey guys, I wanted to share a personal project I've started recently. With every book I read, I make a playlist of songs for it. It's like an added thing to get your mind focused on the themes. And..."

That sounds very cool. Would you share some of your playlists that you've developed?

[Lianne]

Toni wrote: "Cherise wrote: "Hey guys, I wanted to share a personal project I've started recently. With every book I read, I make a playlist of songs for it. It's like an added thing to get your mind focused on..."

Oh I love music and books, so that sounds like a great idea! Like Toni, I would love to read what playlists you have created.

[Kara]

Love that idea, Cherise!

[Moth]

http://8tracks.com/mousycherise

It's where I have the ones so far. It's under "Book playlist project". I'm working on one still for 'The Cuckoo's Calling'. I'd like to hear what you guys think of it!

[Kara]

Listening to your 1984 mix right now. Thanks for sharing, Cherise!

[Kara]

Cherise, just wanted to let you know--I listened to the whole 1984 mix and thought it was GENIUS. Thanks for sharing!

If anyone else wants to take a listen, you can find it here: http://8tracks.com/mousycherise/1984

[Adriana]

Thanks Cherise for the link! I'm also listening to the 1984 mix :D

How do I not know about TheBarrBrothers! So good.

[Lianne]

Cherise, I love your 1984 mix! The songs definitely match with the book. It's nice to see Jack White, Thom Yorke and The Heavy in the playlist, since they are some of my favorite artists/bands. I think I may steal your idea sometime soon ;)

[Kara]

Those with a holiday this Monday, any long weekend plans?

[Toni]

Family reunion on Saturday. Carpooling so will be able to get some reading done in the car. Hoping to clean closets and read on Sunday and Monday!

Need to read Seating Arrangements for September face to face book club. Anyone read it? Can I finish it over a long weekend?

[Jodi]

Whole family getting together at my sister's house for dinner. Have to do a deep clean of house before going back to work. I am going to miss summer :(

[Kara]

My boyfriend and I are spending the long weekend in northern Michigan for a mini holiday. We're having a blast, but unfortunately, my Nook had some kind of weird problem and has totally run out of battery. We're going to make an emergency run to a bookstore later this afternoon.

[Moth]

I didn't do much this weekend. I've been under the weather again. And most recently had such bad headaches I couldn't do much. But I managed to read seeing as it wasn't making noise or light. So I only have 200 pages left of 1Q84, but I need another break from it again. I'm starting this months challenge to give my brain a break of it before carrying on with it once more.

[mussolet]

I didn't have a holiday, but I spent my entire weekend cleaning out stuff - about 40% of my closet and 1*-reads and other things. I have so much space right now, I don't know what to do with it :).

[mussolet]

Craig wrote: "I've been doing a lot of running recently building up to hopefully running a 10k before Christmas. Although the weather is starting to get worse..... :("

Weather at Christmas will be even worse than it is now unless you're in Australia :). Tough conditions are good for exercising.

[Kara]

That's funny--my boyfriend's a runner, and to him, the ideal running temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. I think he's crazy.

[Kara]

Anyone an NFL fan?

I'm not, but I play in two fantasy football leagues (I'm an analytics nut, so I play purely by the numbers and don't watch any of the games).

[Nathaly]

I don't watch football, But I will be watching the US vs. Mexico soccer game tonight!

[Jack]

I am a football fan and I have won in a fantasy football league that was made up of friends, men and women, from the hospital where I worked. We all met over a friends house before the season and held our draft to pick our teams. My head has been in the game ever since. Today I'm in the NFL.com league and I scored the second highest score of the week. Of course, I played the highest scorer. It's great fun and, along with The Red Zone, makes for an exciting season. The Red Zone has no commercials and shows every game when teams are 20 yards out from scoring, the Red Zone.

[Toni]

I'm not an NFL fan but am an English Premier League soccer fan. I won a fantasty league last year and am currently sitting in second place this year. Am glad the World Cup aualifying break is over so we can get back to league play this weekend.

[Stefani - SpelingExpirt]

I'm not an American or UK football fan at all. Rugby is more my thing. American football without all the padding. I have a part time job in a bookies though so I'm supposed to know more about other sports. Sometimes we'll put on a football (UK) match if it is quiet at night and lately my work has been putting up loads of ads for American football and odds on the teams.

[Kara]

Is anyone planning to participate in NaNoWriMo?

For those who haven't heard of it, NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month: http://nanowrimo.org/

I've never participated before but have always wanted to. I'm seriously considering doing it this year. It's kind of like having a goal to run a marathon--even just finishing would be enough of an accomplishment.

[Lilac]

Haha, I've thought about this a few times in the last few years but no, I won't be doing it this year. It's a fun idea though and maybe some year I'll actually try it. Good luck to whoever decides to do it :)

[Stefani - SpelingExpirt]

I did it and failed last November and then successfully did the camp versions this summer. It is a fantastic thing to do, I recommend it to anyone!

[Brian]

Omg I just clicked the link on my iPhone & didn't have time to read all the details yet, but at first glance, the site looks like a really structured and useful resource for new writers and aspiring authors.

I really want to write a fictional memoir and have for a long time but never know when I'll have the confidence to go for it. I'm timid and intimidated by the process.

Kara, I say go for it! Nothing to lose. I am going to look into it more later tonight and consider it as well...

[Stefani - SpelingExpirt]

Craig wrote: "Stefani - SpelingExpirt wrote: "I did it and failed last November and then successfully did the camp versions this summer. It is a fantastic thing to do, I recommend it to anyone!"

Cool, what did ..."

In November I wrote about a girl searching for the parents that gave her up during WW2. During camp I wrote about a sarcastic death.

[Brian]

@Craig Okay, just registered!!

For me, a memoir would be the easiest genre because I have journal entries and many memories growing up that are great material for a story. I am not an experienced writer though, so the first try I'm sure will be a disaster.

Also, I thought first-person narrative from my own POV would be doable with only a month to write. Most of it would be based on real life experiences, changing names and other details, and filling in gaps I don't remember. At least I can write in my own voice.

I'd love to write a fictional novel with an original plot done in third-person omniscient POV from several characters some day, but that's the kind of project that would take years.

At least the rules say you can draft outlines, character sketches and conduct some outside research before the challenge begins! Other than that though, you have to write completely from scratch on Nov 1 - nothing written prior to that date can be included. We'll see how it goes...

[Jack]

This is very interesting. I never seriously thought about writing professionally, especially a novel. The more reading I do, the more I notice the style and presentation of characters. Some books are great because of it and, at times, outshine the story line.

A good book, good writing, is so enjoyable. It is intimidating to think I can do this; it is like singing, when I do not think I have a good voice. However, one of the best pieces of advice I read went something like this: Write for yourself, like no one else is going to ever read what you put down on paper. Also: Just write nonstop, get it down on paper, then edit and rewrite. This advice allays some fear which is a major obstacle. Then again, a new fear arises that advice # 1 actually comes true, "...no one else is going to ever read what you put down on paper," LOL.

Brian, what is this challenge that starts Nov. 1. Do you have a link to the site.

[Kara]

Jack, it's called NaNoWriMo. Here you go! http://nanowrimo.org/